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How To Survive Being Swooped This Spring!

Spring is here and already in our parks, gardens and paddocks some of Australia’s birds are taking instinctive action to protect their young.

By Department of Sustainability and Environment - 31st August 2004 - Back to News

Spring heralds the start of the breeding season for species including magpies, mynas, butcherbirds and masked lapwings. That means doing whatever they can to protect their nests, eggs and young, and swooping passers-by when they feel threatened.

Swooping season can leave many of our normally safe and peaceful parks, paddocks, reserves and gardens as danger zones for children, pedestrians and cyclists using pathways and grounds near where birds are nesting.

Last spring several Victorians suffered serious eye injuries from swooping magpies and the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) wants to make sure that people know how to avoid any problems this year.

"Believe it or not one of the best solutions is to have eyes in the back of your head," said DSE Senior Wildlife Officer, Charlie Franken.

"That’s why we have made a sticker with a pair of eyes, to be attached to the back of hats and bike helmets, as part of a "Swoop!" kit, which includes a brochure detailing why birds swoop, key species and ways to avoid them, and a sign to alert people to potential danger.

"Research shows that birds are less likely to swoop if they are being watched and most birds will attack from behind.

"It’s important to be aware and to take precautions, such as putting eyes on the back of your bike helmet. It’s also wise to share this information throughout communities by talking about the problem and erecting signs in known trouble spots," Mr Franken said.

Native birds are protected under the Wildlife Act and it is an offence to harass or destroy native birds or their eggs, however we must understand their behaviour and find practical solutions for avoiding injury during the swooping season.

Information about the campaign and available resources will be sent to local government, all schools in Victoria, Bicycle Victoria, committees of management, RSPCA, Australia Post, Parks Victoria, licensed wildlife controllers, and bird watchers' clubs.

To order swoop! resources - brochure, poster, sticker and sign – call the DSE Customer Service Centre on 136 186 for an order form or visit the website at www.dse.vic.gov.au/swoop

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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